Chapter 27
Follow-Up
A little later, in the inn.
"You should have seen it! It was soo awesome!" Freya said excitedly as she explained to Loki, Pandora and Kemeko how she and Sephie had felled the wolves. "Mom went total pro on those wolves! Jumping over the first one and under the second one, taking them down with one arrow each! It was like watching a pro acrobat! With bow and arrows!
Then the third wolf showed up, and I just zoned out and threw my spear at it without even thinking, and before I knew it, it was dead! My first hunt, and I felled a real wolf!"
"Weren't you afraid?" Kemeko asked.
"I was a little worried at first, but when I saw how easily Mom dealt with the first two, that worry was just gone. But when that third wolf showed up, and Mom hadn't yet seen it, that's when I got really scared, and the next thing I knew, it was dead, by my hand."
"That's so cool, sis!" said Loki. "And here I thought that Pandora would be the first to fell something, being the rebel and all."
"Same here." said Pandora. "You know, this reminds me of that scene in one of the Narnia movies, where the boy, what was his name, Peter? Either way, he got a new name after he felled a wolf, Wolfbane or something like that. I think Freya should have something like that too."
"That would be beyond awesome!" Freya almost squealed. "Just like the Vikings of old!"
"Then what should we call her?" Loki asked and started thinking. "Wolfbane does sound pretty good, but maybe we can figure out something better."
"I think I have an idea." said Kemeko. "How about Freya Wolfslayer?"
"I LOVE it!" Freya really squealed. "MOM! DAD! I'M FREYA WOLFSLAYER!" she shouted to her parents, who were sitting at the table just next to them, together with Richard.
"We heard, sweetie." Sephie said with a wide smile. "We're so proud of you."
"We'll make sure to give you a proper toast at dinner." Tyroth chuckled. "Just try to calm down a little, before you explode."
But Freya didn't calm down, at least not a lot, she was far too excited at the moment, so the adults had to try and focus regardless.
"I would never have thought that she'd be this high on adrenaline, at least not for this long." Sephie said, shaking her head a little but smiled all the same. "Anyway, as I was saying, there was something about those wolves that seemed off. Like they were feral, or even rabid, not like the first wolves we met."
"They did look larger than normal wolves." said Richard. "Maybe they are a different subspecies. Could still have been rabid, though."
"Even if they had rabies, the disease will be gone once we've properly processed the bodies." said Tyroth. "We just have to be a little more careful while doing it, just in case."
"Sounds like a good idea." said Sephie. "But I just can't stop wondering if there are more wolves like those, or if there was something else than rabies. Maybe I should ask Zaleria, she is more attuned with nature than we are."
"You do that, hun, and I'll deal with processing the wolves." said Tyroth. "Some simple diseases won't be problem for me."
"I'll show you what needs to be done with the furs and hides." said Richard.
As the group was about to leave, the doors to the inn opened and Nicki the Frog walked in, carrying a fish almost as big as he was.
"Louie! Got you the catch of the day!" Nicki called out as he headed for the kitchen. "It's another one of those sea catfish things, and there are more on the boat!"
"Looks like we'll be eating extra well tonight." said Tyroth. "That fish's meat is so damn juicy."
"No kidding." said Sephie. "Just the memory of those brochettes is making my mouth water. But I don't have time with that right now. I have to find Zaleria, so I'll see you later."
Meanwhile, Leonardo was nearing the end of the tour of Mutopia, and Karai had been busy taking mental notes of everything the turtle said and everything she observed.
"And finally, this is the road to an old mine that we discovered shortly after arriving here." Leonardo said, gesturing at said road. "We've only recently started working in it, and not very often, but we've discovered traces of silver amongst the iron."
"Impressive. It seems like you have all you need to survive then." said Karai.
"We hope so. Living like this is new to us. Back on our world, things were… different."
"So I have gathered. I know that non-humans, especially beast folks, can face a lot of prejudice from others here, but that your people were treated as monsters… I understand why you remained hidden from them."
"It wasn't all bad, nor were all humans bad either. We made quite a few friends among them over the years, the closest of which joined us on our journey here. I think you've already seen all of them."
"I believe so. Yet, there is one you have mentioned that I have not seen, so I have to wonder, did my doppleganger not follow?"
Leonardo's face fell slightly, and he swallowed before he answered.
"No, she didn't."
"Why?" Karai asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. But this time, Leonardo didn't answer, instead, he looked away, and that gave Karai all the answers she needed. "I see. My apologies."
"It's okay. It's… just a heavy memory for me, that is all."
"Understandable, and now your shock at our meeting makes even more sense."
"It's been nearly fifteen years since she died, and I was not prepared to find another Karai, even if you are not the same as her."
"Was she also a ninja, like you and I?"
"She was, actually, and an honourable one at that, thought she had several… issues to deal with before she truly found her way in life."
"Were the two of you close?"
"We were, close enough for her to name me godfather to her newborn daughter."
"A daughter? Seems there are some differences between her and me then, I've never had any children." Karai thought for a moment. "What happened to her daughter?"
"She's here with us, been with us all of her life. When her mother was on her deathbed, she made me promise to raise her daughter, and I did, just as if she had been my own flesh and blood."
"Remarkable, and admirable. But what about the girl's father? Where was he?"
"He also died, prior to the birth of his daughter."
"Both parents dead?"
"Yes, and I'm sorry, but I don't want to discuss it any further, not right now at least." Leonardo said, and with all right.
Both Karai and Chaplin had died at the hands of Ch'rell, the Shredder, or Oroku Saki as he referred to his human guise as, and that was what worried Leonardo. The Karai of his world had been raised by Saki, which gave her the family name of Oroku, and with this Karai having the same name, Leonardo worried about how she had gotten it.
Was there an Oroku Saki, a Shredder, in this world too? Or had she gotten the name somehow else?
Whatever the case, Leonardo didn't want to bring up the Shredder at that moment, though eventually he would have to. Her very existence brought to mind the possibility of counterparts to other people, friend or foe, existing in this world as well.
"I understand." Karai said, leaving the topic. "If it would not be too much to ask for, I would like to meet and speak with my doppleganger's daughter. My curiosity have been peeked."
"As was hers when she was told of you, I'm certain. And I must admit that I'm curios as well, and, to be honest, a bit worried about how it may play out. Still, I knew that this couldn't be avoided forever. Let's see if we can find her."
Some time later, Sephie had found Zaleria among the fields, and had explained the incident with the wolves, and the elven druid held her chin in deep thought.
"Rabid wolves, you say?"
"Yeah, or at least, I think so." Sephie clarified. "They were frothing, and were very aggressive, attacking without any provocation, at least that I know of."
"Most worrisome. Wolves, even direwolves, do not attack people unless they have no other choice. Something must have upset them."
"But what?"
"I do not know." Zaleria said and looked at the forest in the south. "Something might have upset the balance of nature, yet I have not felt anything. I believe that I have stayed in the village for too long, that I have lost some of my connection with the wilds."
"Is that even possible?"
"It is for me. Civilisation has never resonated with me, not even that of my own kin. Whatever the case, however, I need to investigate this shortly, determine the cause. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Sephie."
"It's the right thing to do. We don't want to cause any lasting damage to this world, so we need to be mindful of what happens in it as well."
"It warms my heart to hear you and the others say such things." Zaleria said with a smile. "In time, maybe you can set an example for more people in this world."
"We can only try, and hope for the best."
Some time later, Leonardo and Karai had found Kemeko. Needless to say, the young human was a bit taken aback by Karai's request to speak to her, but at the same time relieved as she wouldn't have to be the one to initiate the conversation.
As the three sat down in Leonardo and Kemeko's house, Karai studied the face of her counterpart's daughter, recognising several of her own features.
"What is your name, girl?" Karai asked.
"Kemeko. It means 'turtle child'." Kemeko answered factually. "My mother gave me that name in honour of Dad and his brothers, for taking her in in her time of need."
"Then you know that you are adopted? And what happened to your mother?"
"Of course. Dad told me everything when he felt that I was ready, but I always knew that I was different, not being like them."
"Did this ever bother you?"
"At sometimes, yes, but even though I was so different from them, they still loved me as if it was nothing different about me at all."
"Then you are loyal to them, despite not being related to them by blood?"
"Why wouldn't I? Blood doesn't mean everything. I know Dad isn't my biological father, but that doesn't mean that he can't be a father to me just as well as anyone else. The bonds of a true family are stronger than those of blood, and can include many more."
"And what do you feel when you look at me? Do you see me as your mother?"
"Honestly, no. You do look like she did in the few pictures I've seen, but you don't feel like a mother to me. No offence."
"None taken. I have no plans of becoming a mother any time soon, and it is a relief that you do not see me as such."
"It does feel strange to see you, I admit that, but I wasn't sure how I would really feel if I faced you. But now that I have properly met you… it does still fell strange, but I will not mistake you for my mother, even on an emotional level."
"Very well then. I thank you for your time." Karai said with a slight smile and stood up.
"Wait, that's all you wanted?" Leonardo asked. "I expected, well, more, if anything."
"Maybe another time. For now, my curiosity have been sated."
"So what did you want to know then?" Kemeko asked.
"When I heard that my counterpart had a daughter, I was curious what kind of person she would be, especially since she was raised by non-humans. And from what I've gathered about you, Kemeko, I know now that you are a strong willed and loyal young woman, and most importantly, you won't cling to me in hopes of replacing the mother you lost."
"I don't remember anything about her that haven't been told to me by others, I was too young to. If they hadn't showed me her pictures, I wouldn't even have recognised your face as hers. You would just have been a stranger with the same name."
"You're smart and sharp as well." Karai said with a smile. "I don't know what kind of person your mother was, but I have a feeling that she would have been proud of who you are. Now, if you will excuse me, I wish to withdraw to my quarters. Again, my thanks for your time."
Karai bowed and left the house, heading back to her room in the inn, leaving Leonardo and Kemeko alone with their remaining thoughts.
"That went well, I suppose." said Leonardo as his gaze followed Karai for a moment, before turning back to his adoptive daughter. "Are you all right, Kemeko?"
"I think so, yes. I'm just, well, I guess I'm not sure what I was expecting to begin with."
"I don't blame you, Lotus. No one could have predicted this."
"She seemed very… professional. Was Mom the same when you first met her, Dad?"
"More or less. In fact, this Karai and your mother do have quite a few things in common, but they are still different. Still, there is no telling how Karai will change and evolve now after meeting all of us here."
"The future is always uncertain, that's what Grandpa always use to say."
"Indeed, but it is also ours to try and shape. For now, however, we will wait and see what happens next."
"As long as you tell me before you start dating her or something."
Leonardo nearly choked on his own breath when he heard that comment, giving him a cough and that scared Kemeko quite a lot as well.
"Oh my! Dad! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?!"
"I'm fine, Lotus, I'm fine." he said between breaths. "You just caught me off guard, that is all."
"I didn't mean to scare you! It was just a stupid remark that slipped out, nothing more!"
"It's okay, Kemeko. You didn't mean anything with it, and I guess that it's no secret that your mother and I were close. But, like we've established, this Karai is not your mother, so the odds of that happening are incredibly small. If, however, that were to change, you would be one of the first to know, Kemeko. I promise you."
"Thank you, Dad. And, again, I'm sorry for what I said. I guess Pandora's been rubbing off on me more than I thought."
"You and me both."
Just like the title said, a bit of follow-up to the events that are set in motion. Nothing major, not yet anyway.